White House press secretary Jay Carney speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP)
US Officials: Missing Malaysian Plane May Have Crashed Into Indian Ocean
U.S. officials say the missing Malaysia Airlines jet with 239 people on board may have crashed into the Indian Ocean.
Flight 370 disappeared one week ago and investigators have yet to find any firm evidence of what happened. Theories include piracy and a catastrophic mechanical failure.
The U.S. officials tell American broadcast networks they have indications the jet is in the Indian Ocean, far west of its intended flight path.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the United States may expand its search into the ocean because of what he calls "new information." He did not elaborate.
Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Friday "circumstances" already have expanded the search into the Indian Ocean. He also said investigators are looking at remote parts of the South China Sea.
Missing Malaysia Airlines plane
Indian military aircraft have also flown over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands -- more than 500 mostly uninhabited, heavily forested land masses.
Investigators believe the plane may have flown for several hours after disappearing from radar. They say the jet was sending electronic pings to a communications satellite.
Passenger nationalities, Malaysia Flight MH370
The Boeing 777 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared.
Sixty ships and 50 planes from 13 countries are involved in the search.
About two-thirds of the people on board were Chinese. Other passengers included Europeans and Americans.
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